Communication: Aristotle And Ong's Impact On Communication Skills

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In both Aristotle and Ong’s works, there lies an importance on how orality is key in communication. However, in a modern day setting, there exists now the accessible, instant form of communication, almost akin to verbal language in the form of text messages. Personally, I remember the peak of instant messaging occurring around the age of middle school, where many had flip phones or other such devices. Nowadays, rarely anyone does not possess a mobile phone, and even flip phones are now obsolete, replaced with touch screen devices. Texting itself is not harmful, especially if one utilizes with proper English grammar, but “textspeak” on the contrary is missing such rules. Specifically, this language is created to function “as shortcuts to reduce …show more content…

A study by Soloman Dansieh tackles this exact problem, to see if truly texting has an impact on communication skills. There were 430 questionnaires that were filled out by 400 students and 30 lectures at Wa Polytechnic, a university. The results of this study found that “83% of [students] and 70% of lecturers in the survey admitted that SMS language [could] harm their writing skills” (Dansieh 228). In addition to this study, it has been found that overall “77% percent of adolescents own cell phones, 63% communicate via text messaging every day, and 49% send and receive text messages with friends every day” (Underwood 101). Thus, it can be inferred that texting is an unavoidable form of communication. Being aware of this, as well as the potential impact that some have discovered on language, this relates back to the fears and warnings of both Aristotle and Ong in regards to rhetoric and …show more content…

For Aristotle, this form of communication may allow for a poor use of rhetoric, as well as occasions where manipulation occurs. Walter Ong believes that technology has changed our language, and we have lost touch with orality with literacy. Despite both of these critiques on modern language, there is more of an emphasis on perhaps learning about how technology impacts our speech rather than dismissing it all together. There is the ability to have a successful orality and literacy when one is aware and embraces technology for its hindrances and improvements. For my career, I now feel prepared to face others who may have lost a level of oral communication because of technology, and I plan to try my hardest to overcome the barriers that may present

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